Shoe and retaining means therefor



Jam. 9, 1934. C MlLLER 1,942,486

SHOE AND RETAINING BEANS THEREFOR Filed April 25, 1932 Patented Jan. 9,1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to shoes and, more particularly, to low shoes whichhave means for retaining the shoe on the wearers foot.

The main object of the invention is the provision of a low shoe havingimproved retaining means therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe with adjustableinstep straps.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shoe havingretaining means so constructed and arranged as to permit rapidadjustment thereof between shoe-retaining and shoe-releasing positions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a low shoe havingseparable straps attached at both ends to the shoe constructed andarranged to permit the wearer to put the shoe on and take it off withoutdetaching the straps at either of the ends thereof.

Another object is to provide a low shoe with instep straps which extendacross the shoe opening laterally thereof and which are permanentlyattached at both ends, yet are adjustable to permit the shoe to be puton and taken off the wearers foot.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a low shoe havingseparable straps permanently attached at both ends to the shoe andprovided with a fastener which is quickly adjustable to fasten saidstraps together in shoeretaining position and to permit separation ofsaid straps in shoe-releasing position.

A yet further object of the invention is generally to improve low shoesof the type described.

These and other objects of the invention which might hereinafter appearare realized in the constructions which will be described presently withreference to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a shoe embodying my invention, showing thefastener in shoe-retaining position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the shoe with the fastener in shoereleasing position;

Figs. 3 and 4 show modifications in side elevation; and

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a low shoe of any suitableconstruction having the usual upper 10 is provided with straps 11 and 12which extend from opposite sides of the shoe counter laterally of theopening therein at the instep portion of the shoe and alsolongitudinally of the opening to or near the toe or upper vamp portionof the shoe. As here shown, said straps 11 and 12 are integral with theupper of the shoe line thereof. Both ends of each strap are thus fixedto the shoe. Said straps 11 and 12 have laterally extending instepportions llaand 1201., respectively, which together constitute an instepstrap, and longitudinally extending forward portions 11b and 12b whichare parallel and adjacent to each other, as shown in Fig. 1, when thestraps are in shoe-retaining position and which are separated from eachother in diverging relation from their points of attachment 13 and 14,when the straps are in shoe-releasing position, as shown in Fig. 2. Theinstep portions 11a and 12a of the straps 11 and 12, respectively,extend in opposite directions substantially at right angles to theforward portions 11b and 12b.

A releasable fastener here shown as a buckle 15 is mounted on saidstraps for slidable engagement therewith whereby to fasten said strapstogether as shown in Fig. 1 and to permit them to be separated as shownin Fig. 2. Said buckle comprises front and rear plates 15a and 15bhinged together at the upper edges thereof by a pintel 16 which issecured to the front plate 15a and has the ends thereof received inapertures in ears 17 which are provided on the rear plate 15a. Thus thebuckle plates 15a and 15b can be pivoted away from each other tofacilitate sliding the buckle on the straps toward both ends of thelatter and can be pivoted toward each other to tightly engage the strapsin shoe-retaining position. Although the pivoted construction of thebuckle 15 is desirable, it can be dispensed with as the engagementthereof with the wearer's foot is ordinarily suflicient to retain thebuckle in desired shoe-retaining position.

The construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has many advantages which arereadily apparent, and I consider said construction the preferredembodiment of the invention. However, the invention can be embodied inother ways. As illustrative of other embodiments of the inventive ideaherein disclosed, two other constructions are shown and described. Asshown in Fig. 3 the straps 11 and 12 are provided with a plurality ofeyelets 18 extending longitudinally on the forward portions of thestraps and a lace 19 by which said straps can be releasably fastenedtogether. In Fig. 4 there is shown a fastener 20 of the hookless orZipper type provided with the slide 21 for securing and releasing thestraps.

2. A low shoe having a counter provided with.

narrow extensions at the front upper edge portion thereof, saidextensions comprising straps extending laterally of the shoe openingandalso longitudinally thereof to the front upper yamp portion of the shoe,the forward ends of said straps being secured adjacent each other tosaid vamp portion, and means for releasably fastening to gether theforward portions of said straps for the full length thereof. a I

3. A low shoe having straps fixed to the opposite sides of the shoecounter, each of said straps having a lateral portion and a longitudinalportion, one of said lateral portions being longer than the other, saidlongitudinal portions being disposed in adjacent parallel relation andfixed to the front of the shoe in offset relation to the 1ongitudinalmedian line thereof, and releasable ineans'positively engaging saidstraps for fastening them together.

4. A low shoe provided with straps fixed to the shoe upper, said strapshaving lateral portions and longitudinal parallel portions, saidparallel portionshaving their forward ends secured adjacent each otherto the front upper vamp portion of the shoe i n-offset relation to thelongitudinal median line thereof, and releasable means positivelyengaging said longitudinal portions for fastening said straps together.

CHARLES MILLER.

